Vehicle with full size spare tire conversion and lifting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A vehicle is disclosed which is normally supported by a plurality of wheels and tires, the vehicle having an article carrying space, with a floor formed of a first material and having an opening. A spare wheel and tire storage well is mounted in the opening through the floor and is formed of a second material different from the first material. The storage well is configured to accommodate a spare wheel and tire substantially equal in width and diameter to at least one of the plurality of wheels and tires supporting the vehicle. Also disclosed is a method for modifying a vehicle to carry a full size spare wheel and tire, including removing a portion of the floor of the vehicle, which portion includes a first storage well, to form an opening in the floor, placing a second storage well in the opening in the floor, the second storage well being configured and to accommodate a full size spare wheel and tire having a maximum width and diameter substantially equal to at least one of the wheels and tires normally supporting the vehicle such that a major portion of a maximum width of the full size spare wheel and tire is located below an upper surface of the floor, and attaching the second storage well to the floor. A lifting mechanism is disclosed to assist in the removal of the spare wheel and tire from the storage well. A force generating mechanism raises the spare wheel and tire when a securing device is removed.

BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having an articlecarrying space, such as a trunk, which is converted to carry a full sizespare tire and a method for carrying out such conversion. The inventionalso relates to a lifting mechanism to raise the full size spare tirefrom its storage position to assist in the removal of the full sizespare tire from the vehicle.

[0002] Temporary or space saver spare tires have achieved greatpopularity within the last few years. Typically such tires comprise awheel having a lug pattern to fit the lug pattern of the wheels normallysupporting the vehicle, the wheel having a smaller diameter than thenormal vehicle wheels and a high pressure tire, also having a smallerouter diameter than those of the normal vehicle tires. By reducing thediameter of the wheel and the tire, a manufacturer is able to reduce theamount of storage space that is required for carrying the temporaryspare tire. By minimizing the storage volume necessary for the temporaryspare tire, the manufacturer may maximize the article carrying capacityof the vehicle. In a sedan-type vehicle, the temporary spare tire isnormally stored in a storage well formed in a floor of the trunk of thevehicle. The reduced dimensions of the temporary spare tire enable thespare tire to be stored and covered and not protrude into the articlecarrying space.

[0003] Although such temporary or space saver spare tires have achievedgreat popularity, they are not without their drawbacks. Such spare tireshave limited mileage in which they may be used and many have limitationsregarding the speed the vehicle may be driven while such temporary sparetires are in use. In addition to the mileage and speed limitations, thesmaller diameter of the tire associated with the temporary sparedrastically alters the attitude of the vehicle when the temporary spareis in use, creating discomfort to the passengers of the vehicle andpossibly causing handling difficulties.

[0004] While these difficulties may be acceptable in vehicles utilizedfor personal transportation, they are not acceptable for commercialvehicles, such as limousines and taxicabs. Commercial vehicle usersrequire that their passengers be transported as quickly as possible andwith no discomfort. The use of a temporary or space saver spare on sucha commercial vehicle would limit the speed and the distance the vehiclecould be driven, and would provide discomfort to the passengers. Inaddition, many jurisdictions require commercially registered vehicles tocarry a full size spare tire, i.e. a tire having the same dimensions asthe tires normally utilized on the vehicle.

[0005] The storage well formed in the floor of the article carryingspace of the vehicle is sized to accept only a temporary, or space saverspare tire. Thus, it is impossible due to the reduced diameter and depthof such a storage well, to place a full size spare tire in the storagewell. It is, of course, possible to merely place the full size sparetire in the article carrying space of the vehicle. However, thisseriously reduces the ability of the commercial vehicles to carrypackages, luggage, etc. for their passengers. Due to the severelimitation of article carrying space, placing the full size spare in thearticle carrying space is not a viable option.

[0006] Thus, there is believed to be a need for a vehicle, when it isconverted into a commercial vehicle, such as a limousine, taxicab, etc.,to accommodate a full size spare wheel and tire with at least a majorityof the maximum width of the spare tire located below the level of thefloor of the article carrying space. This would not only enable thevehicle to carry such a full size spare, but would minimize theintrusion of the full size spare tire in the article carrying space.

[0007] Quite obviously, a full size spare tire is heavier and moredifficult to remove from the article carrying space, or to place intothe article carrying space. Therefore, there is also believed to be aneed for a full sized spare tire lifting assist mechanism to assist theuser in removing and replacing the full size spare tire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A vehicle is disclosed which is normally supported by a pluralityof wheels and tires, the vehicle having a body bounding an articlecarrying space, such as a trunk, with a floor located in the articlecarrying space, the floor being formed of a first material and having anopening therethrough. The vehicle also has a spare wheel and tirestorage well mounted in the opening through the floor and being formedof a second material different from the first material, the storage wellconfigured so as to accommodate a spare wheel and tire such that a majorportion of a maximum width of the spare wheel and tire is located belowthe surface of the floor, the spare wheel and tire being substantiallyequal in width and diameter to at least one of the plurality of wheelsand tires supporting the vehicle.

[0009] Also disclosed is a method for modifying a vehicle to carry afull size spare wheel and tire. The vehicle normally has an articlecarrying space including a floor with a first storage well for carryinga temporary spare wheel and tire. The method includes removing a portionof the floor of the vehicle, which portion includes the first storagewell, to form an opening in the floor, placing a second storage well inthe opening in the floor, the second storage well being configured andto accommodate a full size spare wheel and tire having a maximum widthand diameter substantially equal to at least one of the wheels and tiresnormally supporting the vehicle such that a major portion of a maximumwidth of the full size spare wheel and tire is located below an uppersurface of the floor, and attaching the second storage well to thefloor.

[0010] Typically, the floor of the article carrying space comprises ametallic material, such as sheet metal. The storage well accommodatingthe full size spare tire is formed of a different material, such as afiber reinforced plastic material. A flange extending outwardly from thefull size spare tire storage well is attached to the floor of thearticle carrying space. The flange may be attached to an upper surfaceof the floor, or a lower surface of the floor, by bonding, the use ofmechanical fasteners, or any other known techniques. According to thisinvention, approximately 85% of the maximum width of the full size sparetire is located below the upper surface of the floor to minimize thereduction in article storage space.

[0011] The present invention also encompasses a vehicle having a bodybounding an article carrying space including a floor with a spare wheeland tire storage well incorporating a lifting device for lifting a sparewheel and tire from a stored position within the storage well, in whichposition a major portion of a maximum width of the spare wheel and tireis located below an upper surface of the floor, to a use position inwhich at least a major portion of the maximum width of the spare wheeland tire is located above the upper surface of the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a partial, perspective view of a sedan-type vehicleillustrating a known temporary spare wheel and tire storage well in thetrunk.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line II-IIin FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, illustratinga full size spare wheel and tire being stored in the storage well ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the removal of thetemporary spare wheel and tire storage well, according to the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, illustratingthe installation of a storage well configured to accept a full sizespare wheel and tire.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustratingthe full size spare wheel and tire located within the storage well ofFIG. 5.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a partial, perspective view of a sedan-type vehiclehaving the storage well according to the present invention installed inthe trunk floor.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustratingthe full size storage well attached to a bottom surface of the trunkfloor.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustratinganother alternative embodiment in which the full size spare wheel andtire storage well is attached to the trunk floor by mechanicalfasteners.

[0021]FIG. 10 is an exploded schematic view illustrating the spare wheeland tire lifting mechanism according to the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG.10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A known vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 1 having a vehicle body 10bounding an article carrying space 12, in this particular instance atrunk. Although the invention will be described in conjunction with asedan-type vehicle having a trunk, it is to be understood that theprinciples elucidated herein are also applicable to a station wagon typevehicle having an elongated article carrying space which communicateswith the passenger carrying space. Typically, the vehicle body 10includes a trunk lid 14, illustrated in an open position, but which isclosable to enclose the article carrying space 12.

[0024] The article carrying space 12 has a floor 16 with a storage well18 formed therein to accommodate a temporary, or space saving sparewheel and tire. The terminology “temporary” or “space saving” sparewheel and tire is to be understood to mean a spare wheel and tire havinga smaller diameter and smaller maximum width than the correspondingdimensions of the wheels and tires normally supporting the vehicle.

[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the temporary spare wheel and tirestorage well 18 has a diameter sufficient to accommodate the outerdiameter of the temporary spare wheel and tire 20, and a depth d,sufficient to locate the maximum width of the spare wheel and tire 20equal to or slightly below an upper surface of floor 16. A cover 22 maybe placed over the temporary spare tire and wheel storage well 18 as iswell known in the art.

[0026] As discussed previously, it is highly desirable for a commercialvehicle, such as a limousine, taxicab, etc., to carry a full size sparewheel and tire. The term “full size” is to be understood to mean a sparewheel and tire having a diameter and maximum width substantially thesame as at least one of the wheels and tires normally supporting thevehicle. However, when a vehicle is converted from a personal use typevehicle to a commercial vehicle, the article carrying space has a sparewheel and tire storage well that is sized to accommodate only atemporary or space saving spare wheel and tire. If a full size sparewheel and tire is placed into the storage well sized to accommodate atemporary spare wheel and tire, the full size spare wheel and tire 24will protrude into the article carrying space, as illustrated in FIG. 3,thereby significantly reducing the article carrying space.

[0027] In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides amethod for converting the storage well into one which will accommodate afull size spare wheel and tire. The conversion method encompasses thestep of removing the storage well 18, which is configured to accept onlya temporary wheel and tire from the floor 16, as illustrated in FIG. 4,which creates an opening 28 through the floor 16. The size of opening 28is sufficient to accommodate a new spare tire storage well 26 which isconfigured to accept a full size spare wheel and tire therein. The fullsize spare wheel and tire storage well 26 is then attached to the floor16. Storage well 26 may have an outwardly extending flange 26 aextending from opposite sides, or extending around the upper peripheryof the storage well 26. Flange 26 a may be attached to an upper surfaceof the floor 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5, or may be attached to a lowersurface of the floor 16, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In either case, thestorage well 26 is made of a material different from that of the floor16, such as a fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass or other compositematerial. The flange 26 a may be attached to the floor 16 by utilizingknown bonding materials to bond the flange 26 a to either the uppersurface or the lower surface of floor 16. One or more mechanicalfasteners, such as threaded screws 30 or bolts 32 may be utilized inconjunction with the bonding material, or may be utilized alone toattach the flange 26 a to the floor 16, as illustrated in FIG. 9.Although FIG. 9 illustrates the flange 26 a attached to the uppersurface of floor 16, it is to be understood that mechanical fastenersmay also be utilized with the orientation illustrated in FIG. 8 whereinthe flange 26 a is attached to a lower surface of the floor 16.

[0028]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustratingthe full size spare wheel and tire 24 placed in the storage well 26. Thedepth d₂ of the storage well 26 is greater than depth d₁ and issufficient to accommodate a major portion of the maximum width of thespare wheel and tire 24 below an upper surface of the floor 16, and ispreferably of sufficient depth to accommodate at least 85% of themaximum width of the full size spare wheel and tire 24 below the uppersurface of the floor 16. In known fashion, the full size spare wheel andtire 24 may be retained in place by threaded wing nut 34 engaging fixednut 36. If desired, a cover similar to cover 22 may be placed across theupper opening of the storage well 26 so as to cover the full size sparewheel and tire 24.

[0029]FIG. 7 illustrates the vehicle 10 after undergoing the conversionaccording to this invention. As can be seen, the storage well 26 canaccommodate a full size spare wheel and tire 24 without significantintrusion into the article storage space 12.

[0030] A full size spare wheel and tire is, of course, heavier than atemporary spare wheel and tire, and occupies a greater volume, therebyincreasing the difficulty in removing the full size spare wheel and tirefrom the storage well 26, or placing the spare wheel and tire in thestorage well. To circumvent these potential difficulties, the presentinvention also encompasses a spare wheel and tire lifting mechanism toraise the full size spare wheel and tire upwardly from the storage well26 to a position where it may be more easily manipulated by a user. Thepresent invention also encompasses such a lifting mechanism which may beassociated with any type of spare wheel and tire storage well in orderto raise the spare tire from a storage position within the storage well.

[0031] As best seen in FIG. 10, the spare wheel and tire liftingmechanism 38 comprises a force generating mechanism having a firstportion, consisting of a base member 40 and a sleeve member 42 fixedlyattached to and extending upwardly from the base member 40, and a secondportion having a wheel support member 44 with a generally cylindricalwheel locating member 46 fixedly connected to, and extending upwardlyfrom the wheel support member 44. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the wheellocating member 46 and the sleeve member 42 may comprise hollowcylindrical members and are sized such that the sleeve member 42 may beslidably received within the interior of the wheel locating member 46.The exterior dimensions of the wheel locating member 46 are such that itmay be received in a central opening 24 a which exists through thecenter of the wheel of the full size spare wheel and tire 24. A lowerend of the sleeve member 42 is fixedly attached to the base member 40 byany known method, such as by bolts 48.

[0032] A force generating mechanism, such as a known type of pressurizedgas spring 50 is located within the hollow interiors of the wheellocating member 46 and the sleeve member 42. As is well known in theart, such gas spring assemblies 50 comprise a cylinder portion 50 acontaining a pressurized gas, and a piston rod 50 b that is movablyreceived within the cylinder 50 a and has an internal piston on whichthe pressurized gas acts so as to normally bias the piston rod 50 b toan extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 11. A compression coilspring may be located in cylinder portion 50 a to assist the pressurizedgas, or the coil spring may supply 100% of the biasing force. In suchinstance, the coil spring will act between the piston rod 50 b and theclosed end of cylinder portion 50 a. An upper end of the cylinderportion 50 a is fixedly attached to an end of the wheel locating member46, such as by fastener 52. Fastener 52 attaches these elements togethersuch that there is no relative motion between them. A distal end of thepiston rod 50 is fixedly attached to the base member 40 such as by athreaded end portion 50 c of the piston rod 50 b which may be threadedinto the base member 40. Again, such connection prevents any relativemovement between the piston rod 50 b and the assembly comprising thebase plate 40 and the sleeve member 42.

[0033] Force generating member 50 typically has a stopping mechanismwhich limits the extension of the piston rod 50 b from the cylinder 50a. In this maximum extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 11, theupper end of the sleeve member 42 is received within the interior of thewheel locating member 46. The upward force generated by the forcegenerating mechanism 50 should be sufficient to hold the weight of thespare wheel and tire on the wheel support member 44 without noticeablyretracting the piston rod 50 b within the cylinder 50 a. However, suchforce should allow a user to force the cylinder 50 a, along with thewheel locating member 46 and wheel support member 44 downwardly byexerting a slight force on the full size spare wheel and tire 24. Oncethe spare wheel and tire 24 has reached its storage position, securinglugs 54 pass through slots 56 formed in the wheel support member 44 andengage an existing lug opening 24 b in the wheel of the spare wheel andtire 24. Although a single securing lug 54 is illustrated in FIG. 10, itis to be understood that a plurality of such lugs may be utilized, asillustrated in FIG. 11. The securing lugs are positioned so that theymay engage one or more of the existing holes in the wheel of the sparewheel and tire 24.

[0034] Once the spare wheel and tire 24 is in the storage position, itmay be held in this position by attaching a wing nut or the like 58 tothe securing lugs 54.

[0035] In order to remove the full size spare wheel and tire 24 from itsstorage position within the storage well 26, it is merely necessary toundue the wing nuts 58 from the securing lugs 54 to allow the forcegenerating mechanism 50 to raise the spare wheel and tire 24 from thestorage position to a position in which it is located above the storagewell to thereby facilitate its removal. In order to facilitate thepositioning of the spare wheel and tire 24 so as to engage the one ormore securing lugs 54, slots 56 formed in the wheel support member 44may be arcuate in configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 10. This willenable the spare wheel and tire 24, as well as the wheel support member44 to be readily manipulated to align the securing lugs 54 with anexisting opening in the wheel of the spare wheel and tire 24.

[0036] Base member 40 may be fixedly attached to a bottom wall of thestorage well 26 by known mechanical fasteners, or may be fixedlyattached to the wall during the forming of the storage well 26 fromcomposite materials such as by molding. The base member 40 may beintegrally molded in the bottom wall, if desired.

[0037] The base member 40 may have attachment openings 60 formed thereinto facilitate the attachment of the base member 40 to the bottom wall ofthe storage well. Quite obviously, the base member 40 may be attached toa bottom wall of an existing spare wheel and tire storage well tofacilitate the removal and placement of the spare wheel and tire into orfrom the storage well.

[0038] The foregoing description is provided for illustrative purposesonly and should not be construed as in any way limiting this invention,the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle supported by a plurality of wheels andtires, and having a body bounding an article carrying space, the vehiclecomprising: a) a floor located in the article carrying space, the floorbeing formed of a first material and having an opening therethrough; andb) a spare wheel and tire storage well mounted in the opening throughthe floor and being formed of a second material, different from thefirst material, the storage well configured so as to accommodate a sparewheel and tire therein such that a major portion of a maximum width ofthe spare wheel and tire is located below the floor, the spare wheel andtire being substantially equal in width and diameter to at least one ofthe plurality of wheels and tires supporting the vehicle.
 2. The vehicleof claim 1 wherein the first material is a metallic material and thesecond material is a non-metallic material.
 3. The vehicle of claim 2wherein the non-metallic material comprises a fiber reinforced plasticmaterial.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the storage well furthercomprises an outwardly extending flange connected to the floor.
 5. Thevehicle of claim 4 further comprising a bonding material bonding theflange of the storage well to the floor.
 6. The vehicle of claim 4further comprising at least one mechanical fastener attaching the flangeto the floor.
 7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the at least onemechanical fastener comprises at least one threaded fastener.
 8. Thevehicle of claim 4 wherein the flange is attached to an upper surface ofthe floor.
 9. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the flange is attached to alower surface of the floor.
 10. The vehicle of claim 1 whereinapproximately 85% of the maximum width of the spare wheel and tire islocated below an upper surface of the floor.
 11. The vehicle of claim 1further comprising a lifting device mounted in the spare wheel and tirestorage well for lifting the spare wheel and tire from a storageposition in which the major portion of the maximum width of the sparewheel and tire is located below an upper surface of the floor, to a useposition in which at least a major portion of the maximum width of thespare wheel and tire is located above the upper surface of the floor.12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the spare wheel and tire storagewell has a bottom wall and wherein the lifting device is mounted on thebottom wall.
 13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the lifting devicecomprises a force generating mechanism having first and second portionsrelatively movable with respect to each other, the first portion actionon the spare wheel and tire storage well and the second portion actingon the spare wheel and tire, wherein the force generating mechanismgenerates a lifting force sufficient to raise the spare wheel and tireto the use position.
 14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the forcegenerating mechanism comprises a pressurized gas spring.
 15. The vehicleof claim 13 wherein the second portion comprises a wheel support memberhaving a wheel locating member extending therefrom, the wheel locatingmember configured to extend through an existing hole in a wheel of thespare wheel and tire.
 16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the firstportion comprises: a) a base member; and b) a rod member extending fromthe base member and movably connected to the second portion.
 17. Thevehicle of claim 16 further comprising a securing mechanism to securethe spare wheel and tire to the base member thereby holding the sparewheel and tire in the storage position against a force of the forcegenerating mechanism.
 18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the receivingmechanism comprises a securing member extending from the base member andlocated so as to extend through an existing hole in a wheel of the sparewheel and tire, and a locking device engaged with the securing memberand located on an side of the wheel opposite to the base member.
 19. Thevehicle of claim 18 wherein the securing member is threaded and thelocking device comprises a nut threaded onto the securing member. 20.The vehicle of claim 18 further comprising a slot in the wheel supportmember located such that the securing member extends through the slot.21. A method of modifying a vehicle to carry a full size spare wheel andtire, the vehicle having an article carrying space including a floorhaving a first storage well for carrying a temporary spare wheel andtire having a width and a diameter less than those of wheels and tiressupporting the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: a) removinga portion of the floor including the first storage well, thereby formingan opening in the floor; b) placing a second storage well in the openingin the floor, the second storage well configured to accommodate a fullsize spare wheel and tire having a maximum width and diameter equal toat least one of the wheels and tires supporting the vehicle such that amajor portion of the of a maximum width of the full size spare wheel andtire is below an upper surface of the floor; and, c) attaching thesecond storage well to the floor.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein thefloor and second storage well are formed of different materials.
 23. Themethod of claim 22 wherein the floor is formed of a metallic materialand the second storage well is formed of a non-metallic material. 24.The method of claim 23 wherein the second storage well is formed of afiber reinforced plastic material.
 25. The method of claim 21 whereinthe second storage well has an outwardly extending flange and furthercomprising the step of attaching the flange to the floor.
 26. The methodof claim 25 further comprising attaching the flange to an upper side ofthe floor.
 27. The method of claim 25 further comprising attaching theflange to a lower surface of the floor.
 28. The method of claim 25wherein the flange is attached to the floor by bonding.
 29. The methodof claim 25 wherein the flange is attached to the floor using mechanicalfasteners.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the flange is attached tothe floor using threaded mechanical fasteners.
 31. The method of claim21 comprising the additional step of mounting a spare wheel and tirelifting device to the second storage well.
 32. The method of claim 31wherein the second storage well has a bottom wall and comprising thestep of mounting the spare wheel and tire lifting device to the bottomwall.
 33. The method of claim 31 comprising the additional step ofproviding the spare wheel and tire lifting device as a force generatingmechanism having first and second portions relatively movable withrespect to each other prior to mounting the first portion to the secondstorage well.
 34. The method of claim 33 comprising the additional stepof using a pressurized gas spring as the force generating mechanism. 35.The method of claim 33 comprising the additional step of providing thesecond portion of the force generating mechanism with a wheel supportmember having a wheel locating member extending therefrom.
 36. Themethod of claim 35 comprising the additional step of providing the firstportion of the force generating mechanism with a base member and asleeve member extending therefrom.
 37. The method of claim 36 comprisingthe additional step of providing a spare wheel and tire securingmechanism on the base member, the securing mechanism having a securingmember extending from the base member and a locking device removablyengaging the securing member.
 38. A vehicle having a body bounding anarticle carrying space including a floor with a spare wheel and tirestorage well and comprising a lifting device for lifting a spare wheeland tire from a stored position wherein a major portion of a maximumwidth of the spare wheel and tire is located below an upper surface ofthe floor, to a use position in which at least a major portion of themaximum width of the spare wheel and tire is located above the uppersurface of the floor.
 39. The vehicle of claim 38 wherein the sparewheel and tire storage well has a bottom wall and wherein the liftingdevice is mounted on the bottom wall.
 40. The vehicle of claim 38wherein the lifting device comprises a force generating mechanism havingfirst and second portions relatively movable with respect to each other,the first portion action on the spare wheel and tire storage well andthe second portion acting on the spare wheel and tire, wherein the forcegenerating mechanism generates a lifting force sufficient to raise thespare wheel and tire to the use position.
 41. The vehicle of claim 40wherein the force generating mechanism comprises a pressurized gasspring.
 42. The vehicle of claim 40 wherein the second portion comprisesa wheel support member having a wheel locating member extendingtherefrom, the wheel locating member configured to extend through anexisting hole in a wheel of the spare wheel and tire.
 43. The vehicle ofclaim 42 wherein the first portion comprises: a) a base member; and b) asleeve member extending from the base member and movably connected tothe second portion.
 44. The vehicle of claim 43 further comprising asecuring mechanism to secure the spare wheel and tire to the base memberthereby holding the spare wheel and tire in the storage position againsta force of the force generating mechanism.
 45. The vehicle of claim 44wherein the receiving mechanism comprises a securing member extendingfrom the base member and located so as to extend through an existinghole in a wheel of the spare wheel and tire, and a locking deviceengaged with the securing member and located on an side of the wheelopposite to the base member.
 46. The vehicle of claim 45 wherein thesecuring member is threaded and the locking device comprises a nutthreaded onto the securing member.
 47. The vehicle of claim 46 furthercomprising a slot in the wheel support member located such that thesecuring member extends through the slot.